Next month, I plan on teaching a fourth grade lesson on volcanoes. The dream scenario is that every student in your class is on the same exact level and learns at the same exact pace, however, we know that is a just a dream. Teaching ELL students means that this is even farther from the truth because these students come from different cultures, native languages, and levels of English proficiency among other things. I will take a look at four students from four different stages of second language acquisition.

Kenny is in the early production stage of language acquisition. He does not speak much, but when called upon he will shyly read or respond in short answers. My strategies for this student include using a lot of visuals because it is a science lesson and based heavily on content with minimal ‘new’ vocabulary. I will ask Kenny simple questions and model new phrases. I will have Kenny repeat phrases I say and then alter them slightly and repeat again, making stronger connections to the meaning of the phrase (Robertson, n.d.).

Judy is in the speech emergent stage of language acquisition. She speaks frequently and confidently, however it is clear she is not understanding new topics well and relies heavily on repeating familiar vocabulary, rather than offering insightful responses. The visuals will help Judy as well but I will elicit more from her. I will ask her to tell a story about a volcano she has seen on TV or from a movie, or about the volcanic rock in Jeju (if she has visited the island) (Robertson, n.d.).

Jill is at the beginning fluency stage and has become fairly fluent and comfortable in English. It is clear that she is understanding the content, but is unable to understand new vocabulary quickly and struggles to complete her thoughts in English without help with leading questions. Jill can help Kenny and Judy in group work and discussion together. I will ask Jill to draw conclusions about the information we are learning about and I will repeat what they say for the other students while rephrasing incorrect language to model proper usage for Jill (Robertson, n.d.).

Emma is at the intermediate fluency level and speaks often about topics not covered in class. Her vocabulary is still not complete in many topics, but has a strong grasp of proper grammar and sentence structure. I will have Emma be the presenter of the group work and share with the class what each of the students in her group discussed. Emma will receive more corrections for grammar and specifics. Emma can begin self-assessing her needs in the language. I will help Emma connect deeper with the vocabulary by explaining the roots of words when possible so she can make better guesses on future new vocabulary (Robertson, n.d.).

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." (Martin Luther King jr.)

Woman on the Bus

A woman looks at her phone on a bus in downtown Seoul, 2015

Seoul Protest 2015

People from around 120 unions and groups organized the protests on Saturday, December 5th, that saw thousands marching through downtown Seoul. Many people carried signs that said roughly "listen to the people" as they feel the current government is not working for the people but for the Chaebol (large corporations).

Mask Dance

Thousands took to the streets to protest several government plans in Seoul on Saturday, December 5th. They were told not to wear masks because of the "threat of ISIS". The protesters responded by wearing thousands of masks, some dancing traditional samulnori along the way.

Shoulder View

Getting a better view of the traditional Korean dancing at the Bupyeong Festival, this girl sits on dad's shoulders.

Angled Emotion

A man picks up recycling in the city while a little girl pouts in the doorway behind him.

Framing the Street

Tucked into an alley in northern Seoul, graffiti hides as people walk past.

The Clown

A performer prepares to entertain children on Children's Day at Children's Grand Park in Seoul.

Yellow Dust Love

A couple gets intimate during yellow dust season in Myeongdong. "Yellow Dust" is the polluted air that drifts from the Gobi Desert, picking up coal pollution over the cities of China, to Korea.

Rock Reflection

Cape Disappointment, Washington

Launch Pad to the Universe

The Milky Way jetting up from the peaks at Colonial in the North Cascades, Washington

Watercolor Sky

The colors of sunset above Eastern Jeju Island, South Korea

The Race

Two shooting stars race across the night sky at Liberty Bell Peak, Washington

Mt. St. Helens

From Johnston Ridge

The Girl with the Mask

"Park Geun Hye resign" is written across her mask. She speaks loudly without noise in the crowd f nearly a million protesting the president of South Korea on 11/12

Monk in the Front

A million people took to the streets on 11/12 to protest the president in one of the largest protests in Korean history. Many religious leaders joined together to hold signs that read "Park Geun Hye resign"

Man with Candle

One of a million protesting the president of South Korea on 11/12, holding a candle for the vigil and marching to show his support of the president stepping down.

Helping Hands

These girls help this man light his candle as night falls over approximately a million people in the streets of downtown Seoul on 11/12.

Anti-Government DJ Spinning

A DJ spins music for the crowd of protesters on 11/12 as they march against the president of Korea.

A Family Marches

A family marches with candles during the protest on 11/12 that saw a million people spill into the streets of downtown Seoul.

Flying

Flying on the shoulders of her father, this girl had a VIP view of the million person protest against the president on 11/12

Spectacle

Overlooking the crowd in the square, a man surveys the scene. Lights, musicians, food stalls, and a million people peacefully protesting the president and chanting in waves, "Park Geun Hye resign".

Tiring Protest

A little girl yawns on her father's shoulders late into the night as they continue to march against the president.